Sports and fitness

Sports and fitness is big business in the UK, with consumers spending £20 billion on goods and activities each year (2.8 per cent of household expenditure) and more than 17 million people taking part in some physical recreation every month (although in England the number has declined since 1990; only 20 per cent of adults in England take 30 minutes of moderate exercise three times a week). Physical inactivity costs more than £8 billion a year, while a 10 per cent increase would prevent 6,000 premature deaths annually. Sport reduces premature death by 37 per cent, chronic heart disease in middle-aged men by 50 per cent, and the chance of contracting Type 2 Diabetes by between 33 and 50 per cent.

At £1.8 billion annually, the UK has relatively low public spending on sport, with obesity and heart attack rates well above those of comparable countries. The sector is generally divided into:

• sport and recreation
• health and fitness
• the outdoors
• playwork.

The number of people employed in sport-related activities in England, however, is increasing, and is now 400,000, with the sector generating nearly £10 billion in value-added and providing just under £6 billion of all household income. The sector has 5.8 million volunteers (26 per cent of all volunteering in the country), which equates to a value of £14 billion.

Latest available statistics available show there are at least:

• 106,000 sports clubs, with 8.2 million members (England)
• 45,000 playing pitches (England)
• 1,500 leisure centres, with 355 million annual admissions (UK)
• 2,500 private health and fitness clubs (UK)
• 1,300 public indoor swimming pools (UK).

The top 10 physical participation sports are:

1. swimming
2. keep fit/yoga
3. cycling
4. weight training
5. running/jogging
6. football
7. golf
8. tennis
9. badminton
10. squash.

Sport and fitness in the Services

Sport is a very tough area to break into in any capacity and it takes talent, hard work and some luck to succeed. Loss of form or injury can bring a career to a premature end, so participants should also be ready for early retirement. Service courses on coaching and officiating can lead to recognised civilian qualifications.

Each Service has its PT instructors, although each operates very differently in this field. Military PTI class 1, 2 and 3 (and the All Arms PTI) certificates qualify holders to join the Register of Exercise Professionals, and there is growing formal recognition for military qualifications by civilian authorities. Vocational qualifications and assessor and verifier units are being introduced, with job analysis to enhance accreditation. The sector will generally accept relevant Service training and experience, but individuals must be prepared to take additional courses or assessment to reach official standards.

The situation is similar in outdoor education and development. The various regulatory bodies only accept civilian qualifications so Armed Forces' adventurous training instructors will have to ensure that they meet civilian standards if they wish to continue in this area on leaving the Services.

Qualifications and training

There are many different qualifications that help with a career in sport and fitness. Technical ability is critical, as are skills like effective communication, customer care, teamwork and interpersonal experience.

Many sport and recreation-related graduate and postgraduate qualifications allow people to teach PE in schools. Some are part-time or taken through distance learning, so they are suitable for people already in employment. Higher National Diplomas (HNDs) and Certificates (HNCs) also prepare people for management jobs, although expertise in a particular sport or area of fitness is also required.

Some FE colleges offer specialist qualifications and the National Coaching Foundation (sports coach UK) works with the various sport National Governing Bodies (NGBs) to provide personal development programmes for all sports coaches.

There are sport and recreation National and Scottish Vocational Qualifications (N/SVQs) in:

• general standards (Level 1)
• activity leadership (Level 2)
• coaching, teaching and instructing (Levels 2 and 3)
• instructing exercise and fitness (Level 2)
• instructing physical activity and exercise (Level 3)
• leisure management (Level 3)
• mechanical ride operation (Level 2)
• operational services (Level 2)
• playwork (Levels 2, 3 and 4)
• spectator control (Levels 2 and 3)
• spectator safety (Level 2)
• operations and development (Levels 3 and 4)
• outdoor development training (Level 3)
• outdoor education (Level 3)
• outdoor recreation (Level 3)
• spectator safety management (Level 4)
• sporting excellence (Level 3)
• sports development (Level 3).

Individuals are assessed in a number of competencies in the workplace, with most qualifications requiring six mandatory units and four optional ones. To gain them, individuals will need a portfolio of skills and responsibilities. Many people start by gaining a qualification like an NGB coaching or fitness instruction award, and then work to gain the necessary experience.

In the exercise and fitness industry, physical education teachers will have a teaching degree or postgraduate qualification in PE. The Register of Exercise Professionals (the 'Fitness Register') is a system of self-regulation for everyone involved with exercise and fitness. It creates a framework allowing people to achieve recognised standards linked to industry best practice. Qualifications and training are nationally recognised and linked to National Occupational Standards. Register members will carry a card to show that they:

• have the proper qualifications
• are competent
• carry out their own continuing professional development
• are properly insured
• obey an industry code of practice.

Categories of registration are closely aligned with vocational qualification standards, as follows.

• Level 1 - Assistant Instructor who requires no qualification, as they are fully supervised by a qualified member of staff. There is a Level 1 NVQ, and certificate in assistant fitness instruction, and entry is also recognised through an apprenticeship.

• Level 2 Instructor - routes for entry by qualification:

- achieving an NVQ/SVQ

- achieving a Related Vocational Qualification (RVQ) based on the National Occupational Standards and delivered by training providers

- holding a military PTI class 3 certificate or the All Arms PTI certificate

- achieving some industry awards.

• Level 3 Advanced Instructor - routes for entry by qualification:

- achieving a Level 3 NVQ/SVQ

- achieving an RVQ based on the National Occupational Standards and delivered by training providers

- holding a military PTI class 1 or 2 certificate

- achieving some industry awards.

Details will be announced soon of new Level 4 qualifications for specialist exercise instructors and club/centre managers.

Coaching, teaching and instructing

Most coaching is voluntary, with a growing trend towards part-time or freelance employment. Work is available as a voluntary coach within sports clubs, or part-time session coach in leisure centres. Many coaches work freelance for a number of organisations, but most have other jobs as well.

Coaching may also form part of a full-time job role in the industry like a sports development officer or outdoor instructor. Coaches need an appropriate qualification from a sport NGB, and many of the personal qualities of the coach are 'people skills'. A new UK Coaching Certificate is being developed, with cricket, cycling, rowing, rugby union and swimming having already achieved endorsement, and triathlon funded to implement it by the end of 2006, with athletics to follow, 16 other sports set to join them in phase 1 and another 11 to follow.

The outdoors

There are many organisations providing all age groups with a range of sporting, physical and development activities like walking, climbing and caving, or just enjoying their surroundings. Instructors must hold a recognised award from the relevant NGB. Expedition companies usually have a small head office staff who organise and market the activities, and a number of freelance leaders and guides who manage things in the field. Service experience is relevant in this area, and it is common to start as a contracted expedition manager before joining a company in a regular capacity.

Facility management

Sport, recreation and leisure centres catering for a wide range of indoor and outdoor sports exist throughout the UK. Employment varies from receptionists, lifeguards, coaches/instructors, supervisors, booking managers and plant technicians to centre managers. Most people start in this area by obtaining coaching or lifeguard awards and gaining experience, before moving into management.

Stadia and arena

Stadia and arena facilities cater for a range of sporting, entertainment or leisure events. Most employment in this area tends to be part-time, working on event days. As with facility management, a number of different jobs exist including managers and administrators, groundsmen, stewards and ticket/booking operators.

Sports development

Most local authorities and governing bodies have sports development teams that provide sport and recreation on an outreach basis, taking it into rural and urban communities. Experience in voluntary sports coaching and administration or strategic leisure management is relevant. Specific sports development qualifications and courses exist at certificate and diploma levels; however, coaching awards are usually sufficient.

Salaries

The sport and fitness sector is not particularly well paid, starting with the minimum wage. Thereafter:

• general manager - £21,000
• gym manager - £14,000
• fitness instructor - £12,000
• receptionist - £11,000.

Contact details

Sport England, 3rd Floor Victoria House, Bloomsbury Square, London WC1B 4SE Tel: 08458 508508 Website: www.sportengland.org

Sportscotland, Caledonia House, South Gyle, Edinburgh EH12 9DQ Tel: 0131 317 7200 Website: www.sportscotland.org.uk

Sports Council for Wales, Sophia Gardens, Cardiff CF11 9SW Tel: 029 2033 8200 Website: www.sports-council-wales.co.uk

Sports Council for Northern Ireland, House of Sport, Upper Malone Road, Belfast BT9 5LA Tel: 02890 381222 Website: www.sportni.net

SkillsActive, Sector Skills Council for Active Leisure and Learning, Castlewood House, 77-91 New Oxford Street, London WC1A 1PX, Tel: 020 7632 2000 Website: www.skillsactive.org.uk

Sportscoach UK, 114 Cardigan Road, Headingley, Leeds LS6 3BJ Tel: 011 3274 4802 Website: www.sportscoachuk.org

Fitness Industry Association, 4th Floor, 61 Southwark Street, London SE1 0HL, Tel: 020 7202 4719 Website: www.fia.org.uk

Register of Exercise Professionals, 8-10 Crown Hill, Croydon CR0 1RZ Tel: 020 8686 6464 Website: www.exerciseregister.org

UK Sport, 40 Bernard Street, London WC1N 1ST Tel: +44 (0) 20 7211 5100 e-mail: general enquiries - info@uksport.gov.uk, drug enquiries - drug-free@uksport.gov.uk